Mainland
China, under Ming Dynasty, has established trade relations with
the first ruler of Malacca, Parameswara (Iskandar Shah), this caused
a large influx of Chinese traders and settlers to Malacca, bringing
together with them many Chinese Copper Cash coins. In the
middle of 15th Century, there was an acute shortage of coins to
serve as small change, it is believed that at that time, the Headman
and Chinese merchants who traded in Malacca, issued their own private
cash coins, which based on the Chinese copper cash coins of various
Emperors of the Northern Sung Dynasty of Mainland China.
These
tin cash coins were commonly minted in Chinese "Chin Teck Yuan
Paoh", Yuan Fong Tung Pao", "Zi Tau Yuan Paoh|",
"Fuan Sung Tung Paoh", "Sien Pin Yuan Paoh"
on obverse, and blank in reserve, plain in edge, weigh an average
2.0g - 3.5g, diameter: 20mm- 24mm, composition is tin.
This
is a very rare and unique combination of Confucius culture of Chinese
and influence of Islamic value of Malacca Sultanate, hence called
"Malacca Chinese-Islamic Tin Cash Coins". These Chinese-Islamic
Tin Coins shall be classified and graded as highest state of rarity
in this region, because of its typical characteristics of design
and composition at 15th Century. This is also a testimony
of the history of Chinese and Islamic Malacca State relationship,
aged 500 years ago.
